Cinematic Lighting 101 | How to Use Hard Light

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Being able to use hard light with deliberation is an essential skill for every cinematographer, and can be a technique that is difficult to master. Director of Photography Megan Stacey guides us through 2 cinematic scenes using hard light, while also covering 4 important factors to consider, when using hard light to achieve a cinematic look.

Hard light is a quality of light that comes from a small relative source and has strong, defined shadows. These features allow you to creatively shape the light; creating interesting shadows and patterns. In addition, using haze creates atmospheric shafts of light. Using hard light allows you to create cinematic depth and visual interest in your images.

The four concepts Megan discusses in this video include light direction, light quality, light shape, and the utilization of haze. Megan uses these factors in two different scenes that explore stylistic lighting accomplished with both household items, and film set standards.

After learning how to effectively use hard light, you'll have another essential tool for creating your own cinematic frames. Soft light is not always the desired look for an image. In addition, you'll learn how to improvise on set, and use limited resources to set your work apart.

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Summary:
Aputure's YouTube channel provides free high-quality cinematography, lighting, and filmmaking educational content to help you take your film projects to the next level.

[aputurelighting]

What is your favorite example of hard light in a movie or TV show in the past 5 years?

[dimivakrilov]

Generally Deakins' use of hard light is phenomenal. I'd say I love it the most in the opening scene of Sicario

[saumitrayadnyopavit]

Wonderful video!
My favourite scene of using hard and soft light is from the movie 'Chicago', when Roxie Hart is performing the song 'The Name on Everyone's Lips'.
I love that scene because of their shaping of lighting. The entire frame is pitch dark with just one character having a hard backlight, and a soft frontal fill. The character is dancing and is moving throughout the frame, interacting with mirrors and other things and not once has the light spilt over anything else in the frame. The shaping of the light, the selection of other materials (pentablack or some other non reflective black material), the consistency of the light even when the character is moving throughout the stage was just a mesmerizing experience for me. And as said in the video, hard backlight always looks good! It gives that glamorous look to the character perfectly in this scene.

[RabidArtists]

Really love how you guys break down the live scene, well done editing

[ArnieRodriguez]

MY FAVORITE HARD LIGHT example is from the end of "Annihilation" when Natalie Portman's character is climbing down the tunnel from the lighthouse into the cave where the center of the shimmer is morphing. Her complete silhouette, cautiously but too-curiously finding it's way against the alien rippled texture, and some atmospheric haze, is haunting and captivating. A great film all-around. Thanks for this video!

[RyanSchinneller]

Bridge of Spies had great backlit moments using hard light. Really nicely done

[Infosmercial]

Slick video! The use of the 18x24 silk was a gorgeous way of combining hard and soft light.

Favorite hard light scene: Blade Runner when Deckard is interviewing Rachel. The noir feel is spot on and the natural motivation for the haze (cigarette smoke) was great.

Keep it up A Team! 👍

[charliecabrera]

The exterior shots in the Fall (2006) are incredible! The hard light used in the story sequence offset the softer lights in the real world setting. Absolutely love Tarsem Singh and Colin Watkinson’s work on this film.

[BlasterDavo]

Really liking the use of that silk on a single source to make it pull double duty.
I love the hard lighting that's used throughout Black Hawk Down. The Irene scene (kickoff of the mission) is fantastic.

[mayorofndstreet]

The beginning scene of Sicario where they shine light through the bullet holes in the building they are raiding really adds to the suspense of the situation. And obviously Deakins is the man!

[siddharthkumar]

I don't know if it have been used in a movie before but here's a scene.
We see a character (villain) being backlight by a hard source and then to reveal him another character comes near him in the frame and acts as a bounce to light his face.
To tie everything together haze or fog can be used. This can be a very exciting way to reveal the character.
Great tutorial and keep up the good work A-Team.

[JimOConnorFIlmsCT]

Awesome video! My favorite example would be from the Third Man. The final chase scene throughout Vienna's sewers cannot be beat!

[MichaelDHead]

Favorite example of hard light is from Hugo - specifically the scenes in the movie theaters where the hard lights are the movie projectors. Not only is it a great use of hard light through haze, but it also enhances the story.

[pz]

Excellent tut! As someone who often works with speed lights for photos and the MX's, M9's, F7's, and as of today the MW, knowing how to modify small, hard light sources, is key to my work flow. Thank you Aputure for providing us run and gunners crazy good little lights!

[ImaginationFilmProductions]

One of my favorite examples of hard light is in Indiana Jones Raiders Of The Lost Ark when the sun shines through that hole to that map in that cave. I haven't seen the film in years but that is a really memorable example for me. It also is a little volumetric as well. Keep up the great work!

[louislegofilms]

Great video!
My favorite example of hard light is in aki kaurismaki’s films. He almost never uses soft light. That means he uses hard light as a key. But he uses it so good, that his actors still look beautiful. U can see their flaws, but who cares. They look more human like this (in my opinion). Kaurismaki himself also said he wants to make honest movies. I think his lighting is honest.
So if I had to pick one example from the past 5 years, it would be from the other side of hope in the restaurant. The lighting is very well motivated from the windows, and the scenes there are very well lit, with hard light.

[speedweed]

Drive (2011). In this movie, hard light is used in many scenes - especially in the car. But also in the elevator scene, where hard light is used to guide your focus around.

[jokerandkidder]

Great video and tips. Favorite hard light example: The Revenant, when the character is walking in the snow and being completely backlit by the sun with the sun in frame.

[zakariaabed]

what a tutorial ? wonderful and easy to learn

[NathanielGreenVFX]

Awesome video guys as always. Now for one of my favorite dark hard light scenes would have to be from the movie Riddick. When the team had to fight their way through the monsters in the rain and in the dark back to their ship.